Planning permission refused for Dolphin’s Barn ‘amusement centre’ with slot machines [Video]

PLANNING PERMISSION FOR an “amusement centre” with controversial slot machines in Dublin’s Dolphin’s Barn has been refused by Dublin City Council.

The planning application, which was submitted in July, was seeking to redevelop a vacant retail premises to “an amusement centre containing a mix of Amusement-With-Prize (AWP) and ‘Amusement-Only (AO) machines’”.

The applicants distinguished between the two types of machines by listing the AWP machines as “gaming machines on which prizes are paid to participants”, such as slot machines, and AO machines that “are played purely for recreational purposes”.

The plan was submitted by Farry Town Planning Ltd, on behalf of Kian McGuigan.

Green Party Councillor Michael Pidgeon launched a strong objection to the plans, telling The Journal last month that he was objecting on moral grounds as he had seen how “grim and grubby this sector can be”.

Published today, the planners reportstates that although amusement centres are permissible under Z4 zoning, “the site’s immediate character and …